EVENT UPDATES

After four days of play, Benjamin Moon can call himself the first ever winner of the $1,500 Big Blind Antes Tournament at the World Series of Poker. Moon got to take home his first ever gold WSOP bracelet and $315,346 for finishing in first place out of 1,306 total entries.

"I'm trembling, I'm just so excited! It's hard to explain. I only just started playing at the beginning of the year after taking a hiatus. Decided to try and go pro in October, playing the cash games in San Diego and then the tournaments in Los Angeles. Got a good start at the beginning of the year, since then cash has been going well and I decided to give it a shot here at the WSOP. And we're here now."

Moon was dominating the table and he had the following to say about it: "Kinda. I think that might be a bit of an understatement. My table draw was really fortunate. Colin (Robinson) was my biggest threat and I had position on him. I knew that there was so much pressure on everyone with these pay jumps so I just stayed aggressive the whole time."

Benjamin Moon - 2018 $1,500 Big Blind Antes No-Limit Hold'em Winner

Final Table Results

Place

Player

Country

Prize

1

Benjamin Moon

United States

$315,346

2

Romain Lewis

France

$194,837

3

Colin Robinson

United States

$138,938

4

Steven Snyder

United States

$100,268

5

Nhathanh Nguyen

United States

$73,242

6

Bohdan Slyvinskyi

United States

$54,160

7

Eric Polirer

United States

$40,549

8

Raymond Ho

United States

$30,742

9

Dutch Boyd

United States

$23,605

Final Table Event 13 Big Blind Antes

Action of the final day

The final table started six-handed today with 28 hands being played yesterday to cut the number of players down from nine to six. The players still needed to play about 20 minutes of the level they finished in yesterday and nothing really happened until near the end of the second level of the day. Bohdan Slyvinskyi was first to say goodbye to the rest when he ran his ace-seven into the ace-queen of Colin Robinson in the 56th hand of the final table which was broadcasted on Twitch.TV, thanks to PokerCentral.

Even though Nhathanh Nguyen doubled up through Moon at first, two hands later, Nguyen's deep run was done for today when his king-jack couldn't win against Moon's ace-seven. Nguyen got to take home $73,242 for his efforts and his first ever recorded live tournament cash. It would then take another 30 minutes for Moon to add another victim to his list. Steven Snyder shoved his king-four into the ace-ten of Moon for less than six big blinds. Snyder picked up a straight draw on the turn but the river didn't bring it for him.

Only fifteen minutes later, Robinson's run was over when he shoved with eight-five on the queen-four-six flop into the queen-six of Moon. Even though Robinson had a flush and straight draw, he couldn't beat the two pair of Moon, even after the turn and river had been dealt.

Romain Lewis had the loudest and biggest rail with all the French people coming over to the Brasilia stage to cheer him on for every pay jump he managed to grab. But in hand #91 of the final table, Lewis got it in with ace-deuce suited against the ace-jack of Moon. The four-nine-trey flop gave Lewis a straight draw, the eight on the turn added even more outs for Lewis as he now also had a flush draw. But eight of clubs on the river wasn't any of the outs he needed and Lewis cashed in for $194,837 for finishing as the runner-up which surpasses his biggest live cash ever.

Romain Lewis

The big blind ante is a new format that the WSOP is trialing this summer and Moon seemed very pleased about it: "I love the big blind ante. They do it in Los Angeles, all the tournaments I played there have mostly been big blind ante. So, it makes it way faster. There is only one negative if there was any. It's for short stack play, you seem to get punished more. Otherwise, it's great."

Moon will be back tomorrow, Saturday, June 9th, for the bracelet ceremony which will take place around 2:40 p.m. local time on the same Brasilia stage where he has just won. Keep following the PokerNews updates as the live reporting team will be here all summer to bring you all the action from the floor!

Friday, June 8, 2018 4:16 PM Local Time

Romain Lewis Eliminated in 2nd Place ($194,837)

Hand #91: Benjamin Moon opened to 250,000 and called a three-bet jam from Romain Lewis to put the bracelet o the line.

Hand #86: Lewis called and Moon opted to check. The flop came , Moon check-raised to 375,000 when Lewis bet 100,000. Lewis called. They both checked through the on the turn to the on the river on which they both checked again. Moon tabled for the missed straight draw. Lewis showed for the flopped pair of tens and the pot.

Benjamin Moon

7,050,000

-850,000

Romain Lewis

2,750,000

950,000

Friday, June 8, 2018 3:34 PM Local Time

Hands #81-84: Couple Pots for Each Player

Hand #81: Benjamin Moon opened to 160,000 and Romain Lewis defended. The flop came down and Lewis check-called a bet of 150,000.

Both players checked down an run out and Lewis claimed the pot with the .

Hand #82: Lewis limped and Moon checked to see a flop. Two more checks saw the on the turn and another two checks brought the on the river. Lewis bet 310,000 and Moon check-folded.

Hand #83: Moon opened to 200,000 and folded to a three-bet jam from Lewis.

Hand #84: Lewis limped in and called a raise of 160,000 from Moon. An flop was dealt and each player checked to bring the on the turn.

Moon fired 250,000 and Lewis called. The completed the board and Moon took down the pot with a bet of 450,000.

Benjamin Moon

7,900,000

200,000

Romain Lewis

1,800,000

-300,000

Friday, June 8, 2018 3:25 PM Local Time

Colin Robinson Eliminated in 3rd Place ($138,938)

Hand #80: Romain Lewis limped in from the button and Colin Robinson opted to complete his small blind. Benjamin Moon checked his hole cards and decided to check in the big blind.

The flop came , Robinson checked, Moon bet 150,000. Lewis considered his options for a bit and then called. Robinson glanced at the board once more and then decided to shove for about 1,300,000. Moon called and Lewis quickly got out of their way.

Colin Robinson:
Benjamin Moon:

Robinson had flopped a flush draw and gutshot straight draw. Moon, on the other hand, he had flopped top two pair with queens and sixes.

The turn brought them the , Robinson needed another diamond or a seven to stay alive but the on the river wasn't that and Robinsons was eliminated in 3rd place for $138,938.

Benjamin Moon

7,700,000

1,200,000

Romain Lewis

2,100,000

600,000

Colin Robinson

0

-1,700,000

Friday, June 8, 2018 3:19 PM Local Time

Hand #74-79: Lots of Folds

Hand #74: Benjamin Moon got a walk.

Hand #75: Moon raised to 160,000 from the small blind and Romain Lewis shoved for 1,210,000 and Moon folded.

Hand #76: Lewis shoved from the small blind and both Colin Robinson and Moon folded.

Hand #78: Moon raised to 160,000 from the small blind and Lewis shoved in the big blind. Moon folded.

Hand #79: Moon raised to 160,000 from the button and the two other players folded.

Friday, June 8, 2018 3:12 PM Local Time

Steven Snyder Eliminated in 4th Place ($$100,268)

Hand #73: Benjamin Moon opened to 160,000 under the gun and Steven Snyder moved all in from the big blind for 455,000. Moon called to put Snyder at risk.

Steven Snyder:
Benjamin Moon:

A board fanned out and Snyder was sent o the rail in fourth place.

Benjamin Moon

6,500,000

500,000

Steven Snyder

0

-575,000

Friday, June 8, 2018 3:07 PM Local Time

Hands #70-72: Robinson Shoves

Hand #70: Romain Lewis opened to 190,000 under the gun and cleared the table.

Hand #71: Benjamin Moon opened to 240,000 in the small blind and Lewis called from the big blind. Moon led a flop and Lewis folded.

Hand #72: Lewis limped from the small blind and folded to a shove from Robinson in the big blind.

Friday, June 8, 2018 3:02 PM Local Time

Hand #67-69: Lewis Doubles Through Snyder

Hand #67: Colin Robinson raised to 180,000 from the under-the-gun position and everyone else folded.

Hand #68: Benjamin Moon raised to 160,000 from the button and both blinds folded.

Hand #69: Romain Lewis shoved all in from the button for 685,000 in total. Steven Snyder called in the big blind.

Romain Lewis:
Steven Snyder:

The board ran out to give Lewis a flopped pair of queens to double up.

Benjamin Moon

6,000,000

300,000

Colin Robinson

1,700,000

-100,000

Romain Lewis

1,500,000

615,000

Steven Snyder

575,000

-725,000

Friday, June 8, 2018 2:59 PM Local Time

Nhathanh Nguyen Eliminated in 5th Place ($73,242)

Benjamin Moon raised to 160,000 from the small blind and Nhathanh Nguyen shoved all in from the big blind. Moon asked for a count and the dealer confirmed Nguyen had 640,000 in front of him. Moon called.

Nhathanh Nguyen:
Benjamin Moon:

The flop came to give Moon trip aces. The turn brought them the which meant that Nguyen was now drawing dead. Before the was even dealt on the river, the rest of the table got up to shake his hand. Nguyen was sent to the payout desk to collect his cash of $73,242 for finishing in 5th place.

Benjamin Moon

5,700,000

600,000

Nhathanh Nguyen

0

-665,000

Friday, June 8, 2018 2:51 PM Local Time

Hands #61-65: Nguyen Doubles Through Moon

Hand #61: Colin Robinson opened to 200,000 and folded to a three-bet from Benjamin Moon worth 550,000.

Hand #62: Romain Lewis was given a walk.

Hand #63: Lewis open-shoved for 725,000 in the small blind and Robinson folded in the big.

Hand #64: Moon opened to 160,000 under the gun and called a three-bet jam from Nhathanh Nguyen in middle position for 260,000.

Nguyen:
Moon:

The board ran out and Nguyen scored the double up.

Hand #65: Moon was given a walk.

Benjamin Moon

5,100,000

200,000

Colin Robinson

1,800,000

-400,000

Steven Snyder

1,300,000

-200,000

Romain Lewis

885,000

200,000

Nhathanh Nguyen

665,000

232,000

Friday, June 8, 2018 2:46 PM Local Time

Level 30 started

Level:

30

Blinds:

40000/80000

Ante:

80000

Friday, June 8, 2018 2:42 PM Local Time

Hand #57-60: Moon Keeps Rising

Hand #57: Benjamin Moon shoved on the button and both Nhathanh Nguyen and Romain Lewis folded in the blinds.

Hand #58: Moon raised to 120,000 from the cutoff and was called by Colin Robinson in the big blind. The flop came , Robinson check-called the 125,000 bet of Moon. They both checked through the on the turn to the . Robinson bet 275,000 and Moon raised to 650,000. Robinson quickly folded.

Hand #59: Moon raised to 120,000 from the under-the-gun position and everyone else folded.

Hand #60: Steven Snyder completed his small blind and Moon opted to check. The flop came , Snyder check-folded to the 85,000 bet of Moon.

Benjamin Moon

4,900,000

900,000

Colin Robinson

2,200,000

-600,000

Steven Snyder

1,500,000

-200,000

Romain Lewis

685,000

-150,000

Nhathanh Nguyen

433,000

-150,000

Friday, June 8, 2018 2:27 PM Local Time

Bohdan Slyvinsky Eliminated in 6th Place ($54,160)

Hand #56: Bohdan Slyvinsky open-jammed for 560,000 from under the gun and Colin Robinson put him at risk, after shoving from the cutoff to clear the rest of the table.

Bohdan Slyvinskyi:
Colin Robinson:

The board ran out and Slyvinskyi became the first casualty of Day 4.

Colin Robinson

2,800,000

700,000

Bohdan Slyvinskyi

0

-560,000

Friday, June 8, 2018 2:22 PM Local Time

Hand #50-55: Deuces For Moon

Hand #50: Steven Snyder raised to 130,000 from the button and Benjamin Moon called in the small blind. The flop came , Moon bet 120,000 and Snyder called. The turn brought them the , Moon continued with a bet of 400,000 and Snyder folded.

Hand #51: Moon bet 150,000 from the button and the blinds folded.

Hand #52: Colin Robinson raised to 140,000 from the under-the-gun position and everyone else folded.

Hand #53: Snyder raised to 130,000 from the under-the-gun position and everyone folded.

Hand #54: Robinson raised to 220,000 from the small blind and Snyder shoved in the big blind. Robinson folded.

Hand #55: Romain Lewis raised to 125,000 from the hijack and Moon called in the big blind. They both checked through the on the flop to the on the turn. Moon bet 120,000 and Lewis called. They both checked again on the on the river. Moon tabled which was good enough to take the pot.

Benjamin Moon

4,000,000

300,000

Colin Robinson

2,100,000

-300,000

Steven Snyder

1,700,000

300,000

Romain Lewis

835,000

-265,000

Nhathanh Nguyen

583,000

0

Bohdan Slyvinskyi

560,000

-30,000

Friday, June 8, 2018 2:09 PM Local Time

Hands #45-49: Slyvinskyi Doubles Through Nguyen

Hand #45: Benjamin Moon opened to 120,000 on the button and Romain Lewis defended his big blind. The flop fanned out and Lewis check-folded to a continuation bet from Moon.

Hand #46: Moon opened from the cutoff and everyone folded.

Hand #47: Nhathanh Nguyen bumped it up to 130,000 from the cutoff and called a three-bet jam from Bohdan Slyvinskyi in the small blind totaling 295,000.

Slyvinskyi:
Nguyen:

The board ran out giving Slyvinsky a flush and the double up.

Hand #48: Lewis open-shoved from the cutoff and everyone folded.

Hand #49: Steven Snyder limped in from the small blind and called a raise worth 157,000 from Moon in the big blind. Snyder check-folded on the flop of a board.

Hand #42: Moon raised to 125,000 from the under-the-gun position and everyone else folded.

Hand #43: Moon got a walk.

Hand #44: Steven Snyder raised to 130,000 from the button. Moon three-bet to 500,000 in the small blind and Snyder shoved. Moon asked for a count and the dealer confirmed it was 905,000 in total. Moon called.

Steven Snyder:
Benjamin Moon:

The flop came to give Moon a straight draw. The on the turn didn't change the situation and Snyder was still ahead. The on the river completed the board and gave Snyder the much needed double-up.

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